Established in fall 2010, the Timothy Light Center for Chinese Studies was created to enhance the work of faculty and graduate researchers at Western Michigan University who have expertise in some field of Sinology, or teaching or research interests in China.

Spring 2018 Events

Wednesday, February 7

"Dragon and Eagle in Africa: Comparing China and America's Influence in Africa" talk—4 p.m. in 2130 Sangren Hall, hosted by the Haenicke Institute for Global Education, the Timothy Light Center for Chinese Studies, the Department of Economics, the Department of Political Science, the Confucius Institute at WMU, the Center for African Development Policy Research and Kalamazoo Valley Community College. The talk will be given by Dr. Jijun Ran, a Fulbright visiting scholar affiliated to SAIS of Johns Hopkins University.

Wednesday, March 13

"Korea's Crisis, China's Problem" talk—3:30 p.m. in 3301 Friedmann Hall, hosted by the Timothy Light Center for Chinese Studies, and the Department of Political Science. The talk will be given by Dr. REN Xiao, professor of international politics at the Institute of International Studies, Fudan University, Shanghai, China, and Director of Chinese Foreign Policy. Free and open to a public.

Wednesday, March 14

"Bohai—A Mysterious Kingdom in Northeast Asia" talk—Noon in 210 Bernhard Center, hosted by the Haenicke Institute for Global Education, and the Timothy Light Center for Chinese Studies. The talk will be given by Professor Migkun Huo, a visiting scholar from Heilongjiang University, China. Free and open to the public.

Wednesday, March 21

"Mediating Cybersecurity Discourse: A Comparative Study between China and the United States" talk—4 p.m. in 2130 Sangren Hall, hosted by the Timothy Light Center for Chinese Studies, the Haenicke Institute for Global Education, the School of Communication, the Confucius Institute at WMU, and Kalamazoo Valley Community College. The talk will be given by Dr. Junfang Zhang, a professor at School of Journalism and Communication in Shanghai International Studies University, China. Free and open to the public.

Fall 2017 Events

Thursday, Sept. 14

"China's Emerging Role in Global Agriculture" lecture—4 p.m. in 1028 Brown Hall, hosted by the Timothy Light Center for Chinese Studies. The lecture will be give by Dr. Fred Gale, senior economist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Free and open to the public.

Friday, Sept. 15

"China's Pork Industry: A Globalization Story" talk—noon in 204 Bernhard Center, hosted by the Timothy Light Center for Chinese Studies, the Department of Geography, the Department of Economics, the Confucius Institute at WMU, Food and Consumer Packaged Goods Marketing and the Haenicke Institute for Global Education. The talk will be give by Dr. Fred Gale, senior economist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Free and open to the public.

Thursday, Sept. 21

"To the People, Food is Heaven: Politics and Quotidian Life in Recent Chinese History" lecture—4:30 p.m. in 1028 Brown Hall, hosted by the Timothy Light Center for Chinese Studies. The lecture will be given by Dr. Hanchao Lu, director of the China Research Center in Atlanta and professor of history at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Free and open to the public.

Friday, Sept. 22

"Crossing the 1949 Dividing Line: A New Trend in the Study of Modern China" talk—noon in 204 Bernhard Center, hosted by the Timothy Light Center for Chinese Studies, the Department of History, the Confucius Institute at WMU and the Haenicke Institute for Global Education. The lecture will be given by Dr. Hanchao Lu, director of the China Research Center in Atlanta and professor of history at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Free and open to the public.

Wednesday, Oct. 18

"Journey to the West: the True Story of Xuanzang (602-664)" talk—noon in 205 Bernhard Center, hosted by the Timothy Light Center for Chinese Studies, the Department of History, the Confucius Institute at WMU and the Haenicke Institute for Global Education. The talk will be given by Dr. Victor Cunrui Xiong, professor of history and a recipient of the WMU Distinguished Faculty Scholar Award. Free and open to the public.

Spring 2017 Events

Monday, April 10

"Social Turmoil in Hong Kong: Challenging Chinese Sovereignty?" lecture—4 p.m. in 1740 Sangren Hall, hosted by the Timothy Light Lecture Series on China. The lecture will be given by Dr. Helen Siu, professor of anthropology at Yale University. Free and open to the public.

Thursday, April 6

"Urbanization and Social Change in Early 20th-Century Xikang (in Tibet), China" talk—noon in 204 Bernhard Center, hosted by the Haenicke Institute for Global Education. The talk will be given by Yang Liu, assistant research fellow and PhD candidate at the Institute of Urban Studies at Sichuan University, China. Free and open to the public.

Thursday, March 16, 2017

"How to Make Chinese Cities Skilled" Lecture—4 p.m. in 1028 Brown Hall, hosted by the Haenicke Institute for Global Education, the WMU Timothy Light Center for Chinese Studies, the Confucius Institute at WMU, the WMU Department of Economics, and Kalamazoo Valley College. The lecture will be given by Dr. Shihe Fu, fulbright scholar and professor of economics at Southwestern University of Finance and Economics.

Wednesday, March 1, 2017

"Social Media in China: An Update" Lecture—4 p.m. in 1028 Brown Hall, hosted by the Haenicke Institute for Global Education, the WMU Timothy Light Center for Chinese Studies, the WMU School of Communication, and Kalamazoo Valley College. The lecture will be given by Dr. King-wa Fu, associate professor of journalism and media studies at the University of Hong Kong. Free and open to the public.